San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-02-10

| gouil5 HHEtIH.
Surely, religion and humanity could not
demand such sacrifices OF her.
please, ma'am, the currants Is ready TO
put over" said Hannah at the door.
Miss Roxbury rose at once, glad of an
other channel for her thoughts, but, amid
her weighing and measuring Of pints and
pounds, the strange impression did not
leave her mind.
After the rich crimson syrup had been
poured into the row Of shining tumblers on
the table, she returned to her chintz-coyer-
ed rocker, and took up the Bible TO read her
| daily chapter Opening ii at random, her
| eyes fell upon these words:
Then shall lie answer them, saying: In
asmuch as We did it not unto one of the least
| of these >"
| Miss Roxbury read no further on that
| page, but huTiedly turned back to Chroni-
cles, which she felt was perfectly safe
ground. But, mingled with the long genoa
logical tables, she saw other words between
the lines, SO that the Israelitish record read
| thus
1.-THE son of Elkanah, the son Of Joel, the
son Of Azariah. eye did it noto
''The son of Tahath, the son Of Assir, the
son Of Ebiasaph, the son ofKorah. eye did
| 1t notO"
Finally, the whole page seemed to resolve
itself into these four monosyllables.
She closed the Bible and put II in its &C
customed place on the table, bounded on the
north by the lamp, on the south by the
match box, on the east by Bunyan's "Pil-
grim's Progress" and on the west by abunch
of worsted roses under a glass case. She
was restless, miserable, tormented. She en-
deavored to read the Life of Napoleon
BOnaparte," but even the thrilling story Of
the Russian campaign was lacking in inter-
est compared with her own inward conflict
a between duty and the cold selfishness Of
lifetime
She did not enjoy the dinner, although
the butterbeans were from her garden, and
the black raspberries were the first Of the
season.
She could not take her accustomed after
noon nap, and for the first time in years the
daily paper was unopened. She even put 1t
out of sight in the china closet. A wonder
full new design in patchwork, known as the
Rocky Mountain pattern, could not fasten
her attention.
She ordered the horse and rOckaway and
drove four miles after wild cherry bark, for
which she had no need, as her garnet was
already great herbarium.
At last the dreary day came to its close,
but was succeeded by an equally uncOmfort-
able night. Amid frequent tossing and wax
ing, Miss Roxbury dreamed of thin little
hands stretched out to her in piteous appeal,
and of sad, wonderful voice that said with
infinite reprOach,-
''Ye did it not"
Rev. Joseph Alder was surprised soon af-
ter breakfast the next morning by the ap-
pearance of Miss Reliance ROxbury in the
parsonage porch. She brought basket Of
black raspberries, and said,-
II won't come in this time, thank you. l
just wanted to say that I'll take one-One Of
those children"
Mamma, is 1t morning." and the child
turned restlessly on the straw pallet in
corner of the small, hot room.
mo, Dot, go to sleep"
1t was after midnight and in summer, but
there was fire In the stove, for the woman
at the pine table was ironing by the light Of
glimmering tallow candle. There was no
breeze, but in at the one window came sti-
fling, poisonous OdOrS.
Pale and faint the mother bent over her
work, and smOOthed the dark calico dress as
carefully as if it were the finest muslin and
lace. She had worked from early dawn I'M
I'll udIh AZ Htl udllg IdtSh, DuJtOh hOlCS DIT
four cents dozen. A cup of tea and crust
of bread had been her sustenance. For Dot
there was bun and an orange.
The dress was finished and hung on the
only chair in the room, with several other
small articles. A hat of coarse white straw,
with blue ribbon twisted around it, pair
of bright stockings, tiny handkerchief
with bit of color in the border. All were
pitifully cheap i'm texture, but dear in patient
toll and loving sacrifice. Dot was going to
the country for two long, blissful weeks,
and the mother could cover the expense Of
the meagre outfit by some extra deprivation
during the child's absence. She turned to-
ward the pallet. Dots violet eyes had OPEN
ed. Her golden curls were tangled by the
tossing of the little head on the pillow. Her
thin, pinched features were flushed with
feverish excitement.
mamma, is it mOrningp
mo, darling"
The woman blew out the light and threw
herself on the pallet. Tiny fingers crept
eagerly into her palm.
Mamma, tell me some more about it."
pleaded Dot.
Darling, it is years and years since man.
ma saw the country, but it was just as I've
told you. Wide, clean streets, with big trees
and blue sky and lovely flowers"
"Oh, ohp' murmured Dot. Does you
s'pose they'll give me one flower, mammaP
l found one on the street once-a little white
fower A lady dropped it."
Eyes, dear, you'll have all the flowers you
want Don't talk any more tonight"
The sky was already white with the dawn.
The mother did not sleep. As the light of
another day of misery crept into the room,